Here Comes the Judge

One of the spoils of the presidency is the authority to appoint judges, both Supreme Court justices and federal judges. Now the primary objective of selecting judges, especially at this level, is to insure that proposed or existing legislation is congruent with the Constitution of the United States. Problems arise when judges bring their personal ideology to the bench with them. Such problems are common with both conservative based judges as well as those with a more liberal ideology. The challenge is to identify and appoint judges with an objective viewpoint without bias.

“Then I commanded your judges at that time, saying, ‘Hear the cases between your brethren, and judge righteously…You shall not show partiality in judgment; you shall hear the small as well as the great; you shall not be afraid in any man’s presence, for the judgment is God’s.’”
Deuteronomy 1:16-17

Well, president Obama has just made his first nomination for a federal judge, i.e. David Hamilton who was nominated to the United States Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit serving Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin.

Now the objective of this column is not to make any kind of political statement, but rather to see if this nomination will tend to preserve or hinder the Judeo-Christian principles on which our constitution was framed. Inasmuch as president Obama has openly professed his Christianity, it follows that his choices for important positions such as judgeships would reflect his core beliefs that are in turn reflected in the constitution. Remember that he swore on a Bible that he would protect and preserve that constitution.

It doesn’t take more than a few seconds of research to learn that Judge Hamilton is very much a proponent of abortion. Before commending or condemning his stance, let’s first define abortion. Typically the definition of abortion is limited to meaning the termination of a pregnancy. That issue has been highly contested in recent years. For those that oppose abortion according to the pregnancy issue, it’s too bad that Judge Hamilton’s nomination doesn’t require the confirmation of the House of Representatives instead of the Senate because house speaker Nancy Pelosi, an avowed catholic, recently had it confirmed by the Pope in no uncertain terms that life begins at conception.

However, let’s look a little deeper into the definition of abortion. It is defined in a broader sense as the failure of a plan.

There is a wonderful Old Testament historical account that illustrates that definition. The Jews from southern Judah were going to be removed from their homeland and deported to ancient Babylon for 70 years for their rebellion against God. At the end of the 70 year captivity, they were to be freed from Babylon by a Persian King named Cyrus. This was God’s plan for the Jews. The fascinating thing about this story is that God revealed this plan in detail through the prophet Isaiah and named the future king Cyrus as the Jewish liberator 150 years before he was born!

Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, and He who formed you from the womb: “I am the LORD, who makes all things, Who stretches out the heavens all alone, Who spreads abroad the earth by Myself;…Who says of Cyrus, He is My shepherd, and he shall perform all My pleasure, Saying to Jerusalem, You shall be built, and to the temple, Your foundation shall be laid.”

“Thus says the LORD to His anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have held – to subdue nations before him and loose the armor of kings, to open before him the double doors, so that the gates will not be shut:…that you may know that I, the LORD, Who call you by your name, am the God of Israel. For Jacob My servant’s sake, and Israel My elect, I have even called you by your name; I have named you, though you have not known Me.”
Isaiah 44:24 – 45:4

The question can be asked: What would have been the consequences if Cyrus’s mother for whatever reason had decided to terminate that pregnancy? The full meaning of the word “abortion” would have come into play, i.e. not only would Cyrus not have been born, there would have been the “failure of the plan.” Therefore, abortion is much more comprehensive than it appears on the surface. It is much more than just terminating a pregnancy, it interrupts God’s plans for mankind. The Bible reveals that life in the eyes of God begins many years before the actual conception. This is illustrated many times in the Bible.

The present issue is whether we as a nation are making decisions that are in agreement with God’s word or are we making decisions that are knowingly contrary to biblical teachings.

Oh, and by the way, Judge Hamilton has ruled that prayers in Jesus name at the Indiana House of Representatives were unconstitutional, but prayers to Allah were not. Therefore, it appears that this judicial nominee brings a resume that advertises in advance that he has broken two of the Ten Commandments during the course of his judicial duties.

The question is not one of conservative vs. liberal, or democrat vs. republican; it is a question of whether we are making decisions that will hasten the arrival of the ultimate judge.

“So Abraham still stood before the LORD…and said…Shall not the judge of all the earth do right?’”
Genesis 18:22-25

“Let the heavens declare His righteousness, for God Himself is Judge.”

Psalm 50:6

“Arise, O God, judge the earth…” Psalm 82:8

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